Chicken coop



BEST AVAILABLE COP\ c. L. PLUNKETT CHICKEN COOP Filed March 1'7, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- gwoenkoz 61.5. flan/fad? QM BEST AVAILABLE COP\ Nov. 24, 1925- C. L. PLUN KETT CHICKEN COOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1'7, 1925 IHI II alike cw "jchicks'f f F that I aim to do is to constructed I-hou'sing 'provided with a de- "Th's'" invention f:

- necessarily;

Patented Nev. 24, 1925.

' WJ T D T TES To'aZZ*w'h'om, it may concern."

3 Be itknown that I, GHARLES'L. PLUN- fnnr'r, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at -Mo'nte Vista, in the county of Rio Grande and State of Colorado, have inventi ed'certain'new'and useful Improvements in j Chicken Coop, of j specification. i

whichthe following is a I relates to an improved coop' 'wliichhas been especially, but not "designed for housing small provide a suitably 'pr'es'sible floor held normally in a predeterclosed position undei' the action oft-he downwardly 'movable floor whereby to automatigovern ithe number of chicks permit 1 "te'd to 'enter the coop.

=" f More"specifically, I propose to provide a i deplre'ss'ible floor, suspension means therefor,--

'- and a -ro'ckablymounted frame connected =with the"suspensicn means. the sainebeing mai'ntam'ed in-a} predetermined position un- "der th'eac'tion of an adjustable'weight, and

there beinga flexible "connection between the rockable frame and a sliding door which is automatically closed when-the frame is rocked in-a predetermined direction under the action of the floor.

Othe'rstructural features and advantages may be derived from the use of the improved structure and same will become apparent from the following description and d rawin g.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a coop constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken approximately on the plane of the line 22, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the an rows.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the improved coop.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it

BEST AVA'TLABLE COP\ designed 'to serve as 1 PATENTOFFICE.

I L. PLUNKETRIOF ll/IONTEVISTA, COLQRAIDO. v z cmoiznn coor. I 5 v Application filed March 17 1 925. Serial No. 16.163.

will be seen that the reference character 1 designates generally a housing or coop of -'any sultable configuratlon and construction. The same may be of the construction shown or of any appropriate construction and shape according to the circumstances confronted. As stated, the coop is especially a housing for small chicks. I

I In this connection I would recall that it is customary for'groups of chicks to huddle together-when roosting at night- Under such conditions they crowd each other to an extentito'hinder their growth and well being.

In vicwof such circumstances, it becomes v mined position" by a weight, the action of? I which' is overcome when a certain numher' 'of 'chickscongregate upon the floor, there a being'iaflsliding door which is moved to 20:

necessary to separate certain numbers of chickens tov preventovercrowding. in the various small coops provided for their care.

In order to consumethe least labor possible in overcoming this objection, I provide the housing shown with a depressible floor 2, the upwardmovement ofwhich is limited by blocks 3 constituting. stops. Connected to opposed longitudinal sides of the floor and extending vertically therefrom are substantially V-s'lraped suspension wires 4-. vDisposedover the apices of these wire members is a transversely arranged arch 5,. the-depending arms of which are-provided with hooks (5 to engage with the apices of the suspension members. 1

Extending crosswise of the housing slightly in front of and at a plane below the bight portion of the arch is a-stationary shaft 7.

Rockably mounted uponthis shaft is a subslantially V-shaped weight carrying frame 8. In the present instance the frame has its arms provided with pivot eyes connected to the shaft. It will also be observed that the ends of the arms extending beyond the shaft are connected with the arch 5. If desired, appropriate braces 9 may be connected with the arch and frame and extended across the shaft 7. It will be noted that a rod 10 is connected to the apex of the frame 8, pivotally connected between its ends to shaft 7 and connected at its opposite'end to the intermediate portion of the bight of the arch 5.

This rod is provided with a corrugated portion 11 forming a series of seats for reu weirdly over a pulley 14 on the front wal l cally be counterbalanced and moved to open position under the in-fltience of. the ,vveight. il-Iowevernundrcertain conditions .to appear, --it 'is gravity lowered rtoclose the opening 16.

Although it is "not essential, I :p'r'opose to pifovideza handcl'osed sliding door 17 to cover the opening-16 at night.

.vThB operation, is its follows: hen "a certain number of chickens enters the housing through the opening 16 and stand upon the de'presisihle floor 2, it will be seen that the sinn'ef will move; downwardly 'andthrough the miediinn (if-the suspension inen'i-bers 4rilild ':\ICl1'.'5AV-lltSClVO to. rock the weighted 'f-iia-iiie 8 upon itsfulcrum th-r'isfpcrn'iitting the fran'ie to take the dotted line position indicated in Fig. =3 In-so doing, the screen --,-(loor-v1 5 :lb'wers under the action of gravity to automatically closethe opening and to- 'trap thecl'iicks inl'tlre hohsing. In this way o'nlyn certain number. of chickens are perni'i'tt-ed to enter and this action can be controlled by. adjusting the -\veight .12.

ire-night time, the 110011.17 can be closed by the care, taker. .The foregoing descrip- "tion taken incdnne'etidn with the drawings,

'nillJenable v.pe-rsons skilled in the art to which theinventio'n relates to obtain a clear understanding fof the same, Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

Although I have shown and described the {Me'f-errd ieiilbodiment ofthe ii l'ventio'n, it is :to be understood that minor changesfcoining iwithin thelfieldi ofinvention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

51,563,107 BEST AVAILABLE QOPr Having thus described my invention, what I claim cas ew isz- {IQ-,1; l n il n cofif, fa hhuii1 p rfovided w tl an entrance opening, a sliding gravity lowered door for opening, a depressible "floor, sidesnsfiens'ion-"inembers connected with said floor, an arch pivotally connected with said suspension members, a shaft supported -in .sa;id,-h using, a frame pivotally mounted upon sai shaft and connected with said arch, means for.adjustablyn ountinga W -21 bupon. sai rame, count an e gh z -qmi stedi w hs it m ans afl ibl ne ion betwee a d. r mes-11 ides-"f a r ley- E ..-'i['h 11-' meensis reset-.

n a chicken-seer, ilfil pl$$ ih i 19 3 a Pa np sub tan ia ly (sh ped see m e members connected to the 'dppgsite si' "I f s oo a el ely s tiess aho. tr

ppor ng. sha abov sa i'dam m ers. a con-riterrbalan'ced frame ipiyptally "rnon-n t 'ecl upon said shaft, and a connecting areln the jdepending arms of which vare provided with h 1 e fied wi e e e1 es..-Q risemembers, s;1 '-id;f -i'a nefbei'ng connected with the hight,portion'of-saidarch; v -In chicken coop, .a honsing'gprp "ided wi 1 @MM QQIii -ipg, a s d ng ssrsri y flowered door for: s'aidope'rriiig, a d'epressible floor, a z-nair, of spac'ed parfallel ,side siispension niembers'eon-necte d in said flQO D, L relatively :sta t;io'nary ;shaft supported 'in' {said housing above said members, a framegpivota'lly-anorrntegl upon said shaft, a corrugated mb er dby a i sme e-vwsighe eluding means forgadjustably supporting it upon the corruga-ted membe'nan archedconnectojr th e {arms of which, are honnect'ed :to the t-a'fores'aid side suspension n'1 embe'rs,;said frame being connectedjto {the central portion of .1e :Q r,.- d a. fl xib i ii ra i nection between saidir-an e janddoor.

In testimony "whereof Ifl ffi-X my signature. 

